The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22

think What shall 1 do? Tell me-
there's dear2"
Nothing" said Arethusa quietly.
"Just lie down again and let me send for
the doctor"
"But the bosrders and the dinner?"
9TH see to that" said Arethuss. "Trust
me and all shall be right. Those people
downstairs have been growing idler, and
more domineering and inefficient, every
day; and now they want you to pay them
more money really for doing less work.
There must be an end to this You will
empower me with full authority
Mrs. Binns sent for the cook.
"Mrs. Mackenzie" said she, "I am too
sick to parley with you, but Miss Allen
will represent me fully. What she says
I sayr
And she lay down and turned her face
to the wall, with shut eyes, as il she
washed her hands OF the whole concern;
while Mrs. Mackenzie bridled and turned
to the slim school teacher, who IN her
heart she secretly despised "as no better
than servant herself, with all them airs
and graces of hern."
"Well, Miss Allen" said she, "what's
your mind on the subject? The sooner
the question is settled the better for all
parties. We amt goin' to stand no i'm
positionP'
Whatever idea Arethuss might have
entertained as to the compromise was
thoroughly banished by the cool inso-
lence OF this last remark.
"You may co." she said.
"Hey2" said Mrs. Mackenzie, brietling
up like setting hen.
ct decline to entertain your proposal"
said Arethusa, calmly. "Pack up your
things, all of you, and leave the house at
once. If you are expeditions, you may
succeed in taking the noon-train, that
stops at the Gorge"
And she paid their wages, out of Mrs.
Binns' cherry secretary, and dis
charged them, as the good old lady re-
marked, "horse, foot and dragoons.'
Then she called convention Of the
boarders, and told the tale.
eff you won't mind dinner of cold
lamb and lettuce to-day" said she, with
desert of snow-pudding that I can make
myself, I'll promise you something more
elaborate tomorrow"
And they all cheerfully consented.
John, the stable-boy, was the only ad-
herent left, and he harnessed up the
horses and drove Miss Allen down the
mountain. side to farm house, where
lived Mrs. Beasley, the mother OF the big
boy who had been the school ma'am's
worst enemy at first and her most faith
full ally ever afterward.
"Mrs. Beasley," said Arethusa, 81
want to borrow your two daughtersP'
"Bless me, Miss Arethusa |" said the
good woman, "what for"
"To help at the Gorge House !" and
Arethusa told her story. "Joanna and
Fanny are quick, smart girls. I'll pay
them dollar and half a week to act as
mattresses"
"They'd oblige you, Miss Arethusa,
cheerfully, without cent" said Mrs.
Beasley.
"They will oblige me more by accepting
suitable remuneration, said Arethusa.
cat this stage of the world, everything is
worth it's money value, you know. What
say you, girls Will you go ?"
"And welcome" said Fanny.
eff we can learn the business" said
Joanna, who was shyer, and more dis
trustful of herself.
"I'll make it my business to instruct
you," said Arethuss, brightly. "Pack up
your things. Be ready to jump into the
wagon when I come back"
"Can't I do nothing, Miss Allen 9"said
big Junius, wistfully.
at am going to get Susan Rich to do
the washing" said Arethuss. eff you
would turn the handle for her sometimes
="
"Pll turn it from now to doomsday, il
it'll help you, Miss Allen,' said Junius.
.'Susan amt half bad girl, neither, il
she didn't chaff fellow So"
"Thank you, Junius," said Miss Allen.
"You will oblige me very much, indeed"
Mrs. Ridley who had once been house
keeper in grand Poughkeepsie family,
and now lived on her interest money, vol
unteered as cook, with the assistance OF
Marian Sewer, the rector's daughter, who
had spent a winter in New York and
taken lessons of Miss Parloa.
at will be such fun" said pretty Ma
rian, dancing up and down. Sand Mark
is TO be Miss Aliens caterer, and send in
supplies to her"
eyes," sid Mark Sevier-a college
professor-who has just come home to
the parsonage to spend his vacation
"the Gorge House shall be literally sup
piled, even il 1 have to turn highway rob-
Der for Miss Aliens benefit. But hope
Miss Allen, there need be no danger OF
our coming to that extremity. l know
farmers who raise lambs. and calves, and
tender young 'broilers.' 1 can put my
finger on brooks where trout do congre-
gate, and boys who would like nothing
better than to catch them. know where
the berry pickers live, and there isn't a
melon patch or plum orchard that L can't
press into the service. You shall live like